On mepsnbarry.com, I have published a gallery of the best photos from my recent trip to the Yucutan Peninsula to see the Mayan ruins. I hope you enjoy the beautiful Caribbean sunshine and mysterious ruins in the jungle.
All photos are copyrighted, but feel free to send me an email if you’d like to reuse one.
The beach where we stayed
Inside the condo. The full kitchen meant we didn’t eat out very much.
View from our condo’s balcony.
The view from our balcony.
I love this boat’s name!
On the beach near our condo, wearing my polka-dotted hat from Brazil
The Caribbean really is this color.
The pool at our resort
Access to the beach from our condo was through this claustrophobic corridor.
Sunny interior window of our condo.
Open air grocery, Tulum. (something is wrong with the thumbnail, but if you click on this one, the photo stil comes up)
Sleeping dogs lie. In Tulum.
Where the sleeping dogs lie.
When I see something like this in a foreign country, I wonder if the wearer understands English.
The iguanas that live under the electrical panel
Ancient Tulum was a walled city. When you approach, you walk around the wall.
View of the Caribbean and kite surfer at Tulum ruins.
Shearwater flying over Tulum ruins.
Philip at Tulum ruins.
Meps at Tulum ruins.
Mayans must have been pretty short. Entering the walled city of Tulum.
Tulum ruins.
Tulum was the most beautiful location for an ancient city.
View from Tulum ruins.
Iguanas sun themselves at the ruins of Tulum.
A big, iguana at Tulum.
My favorite shot at Tulum.
Another cute iguana.
Busy beach at Tulum ruins.
My other favorite shot at Tulum.
Carvings at Tulum.
Philip enjoys the sights at Tulum.
Iguanas are vegetarians, but they do bite. Meps keeps a safe distance.
Interesting tree at Tulum.
I scored a real Mexican jicama at the market. It was delicious with homemade guacamole.
Unexcavated ruins at Muyil (Chunyaxchen)
The first pyramid we climbed, at Muyil
Meps, halfway to the top at Muyil.
Philip at Muyil. This temple was also used as a lighthouse.
Looking down the precipitous steps at Muyil.
Philip photographs a bat inside a temple at Muyil.
Lower temple at Muyil. The green oranges may have been an offering?
Termite nest.
Meps on a sacbe (road).
Information sign showing what carvings were found at different sites.
Information sign showing what carvings were found at different sites.
Intriguing tree bark in the jungle.
Original paint, Muyil. Many centuries old.
Funny tree with knees.
Philip with a nifty leaf.
Roof detail of the palapa over our table at the restaurant.
Hanging out at the local pub.
The restaurant had to close at 6 pm promptly, or risk a fine.
Locals enjoy a beer at the bar.
Sopa Azteca…similar to what we call Tortilla Soup.
Chilaquilles with a fried egg on top. Layers of tortilla chips, chicken, tomato sauce, cheese, and cream, with lots of onions..
Dramatic sky and parasailer, view from our balcony.
Ball court at Coba
Wow! Coba was 13 stories tall.
View over the jungle from the top of the pyramid at Coba.
Phooning at the top of the temple, Coba.
I made it! Meps successfully makes it down from Coba. The giant steps were not made for my short legs.
Human sacrifice or just a silly Meps?
This vendor at Coba has a sense of humor.
View from the top, Coba.
The 13-story climb was not easy, nor was going back down.
After the crowds at Tulum and Coba, Chacchoben was a delightful surprise.
Philip climbs the structure at Chacchoben, with special permission.
View from Chacchoben.
Peekaboo view of the other temple.
Carvings at Chacchoben.
More steps. Chacchoben.
Chacchoben.
Philip peers down from the top, Chacchoben.
View from the top, Chacchoben.
Postcard-like scenery, Chacchoben.
The Commander and Philip.
“They won’t lock you in. I have the keys!
Alfredo Gonzales shows Philip some of the books he uses to reproduce ancient carvings.
Master Carver Alfredo Gonzales, with his autographed photo of John Glenn. Gonzales’ reproductions of ancient carvings are found in collections around the world.
Statue by Alfredo Gonzales, reproduction of an ancient piece. Some of the Mayan art looks very Eastern.
Gonzales’ son displays one of the carvings in his studio.
One of Gonzales’ carvings, with an image of the original.
“This one is a baby,” he said.
“What tools do you use?” I asked Alfredo Gonzales. Just these, and a Swiss Army knife.
Rabbit detail from one of Alfredo Gonzales’ carvings.
Gateway with arch at Ek’Balam.
Snake carving, Ek’Balam.
Awesome carvings at Ek’Balam.
Tomb entrance at Ek’Balam.
The lower jaw of the big mouth that was the tomb entrance at Ek’Balam.
Tomb carving, Ek’Balam.
This character holds open the eye of the big snake. If his eyes were to close, the world as we know it would end.
Statues, Ek’Balam. The one on the left is deformed, probably a common thing in the inbred upperclass members of the city.
One of the whimsical, bug-eyed carvings. Ek’Balam.
Our guide points out details of the tomb carvings at Ek’Balam to Philip.
Some of the details found at Ek’Balam look like Egyptian heiroglyphics.
Meps at Ek’Balam.
At the top of the temple, looking out over the jungle, Ek’Balam.
Our guide at Ek’Balam had been part of the team that excavated the temple.
The top of the temple, Ek’Balam. I accidentally hit the shutter button when I was navigating the ladder and trying to keep my hat on.
Sleeping dog and stela, Ek’Balam.
Sleeping dog at the base of a priceless stela, Ek’Balam.
Turquoise-browed motmot, Ek’Balam.
Ek’Balam.
I loved the symbols used to indicate ruins.
Our beach bar had swings instead of barstools.
Meps in her new Mexican sombrero de jipijapa, found on the Cancun-Tulum freeway.
Hi Meps, Thanks for sharing your experiences and pics. We used to go SCUBA diving off Cozumel over the Thanksgiving holiday (lobster instead of turkey!). We usually included trips to ruins on the pennisula. We haven’t been to Mexico since 1997. Come see use Down Under. Love, Barbara and Jim
Awesome Pics!! Thanx SO Much for Sharing!!
Hi Meps, Thanks for sharing your experiences and pics. We used to go SCUBA diving off Cozumel over the Thanksgiving holiday (lobster instead of turkey!). We usually included trips to ruins on the pennisula. We haven’t been to Mexico since 1997. Come see use Down Under. Love, Barbara and Jim
Now you know why I was so happy that weekend!